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on July 1, 2015
Heinz Guderian, Achtung-Panzer: The Development of Tank Warfare (London: Cassell, 1992). Originally written in 1937, Guderian’s analysis of tank warfare would turn out to be seminal. Pointing out the changed nature of warfare with the introduction of poison gas, the airplane and the submarine during World War I, he accented the importance of tank warfare with the very crucial addition of motorized infantry, and declared that if panzer forces were “full of verve” and “fanatically committed to progress” they would “restore the offensive power of the army.” He was correct and the resulting German blitzkrieg would turn out to be the revolution he had envisioned. Note: Germany may have had its Guderian and Great Britain its Liddel Hart and Fuller, but America had George S. Patton who, writing in the Cavalry Journal (May, 1920), wrote a splendid little provocative piece entitled “Tanks in Future Wars” (pp. 342-346) about the need to focus on tanks as an armored force and not scatter them in among infantry and artillery. He concluded, “The tank corps grafted onto infantry, cavalry, artillery, or engineers will be like the third leg of a duck; worthless for control, and for combat impotent.” Patton was immediately told to cease and desist by the powers that were if he wished to continue in the U. S. Army. For his part, Captain D. D. “Ike” Eisenhower, wrote a contemporary piece for the Infantry Journal entitled, “A Tank Discussion,” (November 1920), pp. 453-458. In it Eisenhower tries to make the case for keeping tanks as part of the equipment of the infantry units. Taken together, these two articles show what thin gruel were the American musings after World War I about an armor revolution in warfare. For Patton’s war recollections, see his posthumously published War As I Knew.
If you are a fan of military history and want a better understanding of the changes in warfare wrought in WW ...
on May 5, 2016
The technical memoirs of a superb military mind. He called the result Blitzkrieg; we call it, today, combined arms operations. This is a work by a German professional soldier, a product of the German General Staff, and a superb field commander. Had Hitler not intervened and ordered a stand down for three days, it is likely that Guderian and von Rundstedt would have captured the entire British army at Dunkirk. This result by the application of Guderian's theories on combined operations and the role of armor (tanks) in modern warfare.
If you are a fan of military history and want a better understanding of the changes in warfare wrought in WW II, this is a book for you.
If you are a fan of military history and want a better understanding of the changes in warfare wrought in WW II, this is a book for you.
on April 30, 2017
some of it applies to today's warfare and as an Army Officer it was a good read. the only reason it only gets 4 stars is too much of it focused on German unit organization and not applicable to todays US armor units.
on June 17, 2013
I enjoy reading military and conflict history. To get a sense of scope of a world-war or even the small and large scale aspects of the trenches is difficult, to comprehend the experiences either political, strategic, tactical or personal requires a lot of reading. Recommended authors might include Keegan, Wilmott, Sir Alasdair Horne, Ernst Junger, Robert Graves or Guy Sajer (ww2). There is however something different about the style that Guderian uses. Junger and Graves and others like Guy Sajer speak of personal impact and effect and horror of physical in contact battle. Sir Alistair Horne refers to some of this in his excellent book on Verdun whilst also trying to reference all layers of the conflict and flawed thinking of leadership and the costs.
There is something of value in the way that Guderian writes with detachment and clinical surgical observation that makes one appreciate tactics at the divisional level. He speaks in 20/20 hindsite of designs in the success and failure of various tactics in numerous battles during WW1. The 'such and such division' were wiped out. The excellence of the British operation at Cambria, the failure of the German response to the new weapon. All written in a clear fashion to help influence the high-command in creation of tank forces in the late 30's. Excellent, and different to the gore and personal cost expressed by Graves in Goodbye to all that or Alasdair Horne's Verdun.
Mandatory WWI and WWII reading!
There is something of value in the way that Guderian writes with detachment and clinical surgical observation that makes one appreciate tactics at the divisional level. He speaks in 20/20 hindsite of designs in the success and failure of various tactics in numerous battles during WW1. The 'such and such division' were wiped out. The excellence of the British operation at Cambria, the failure of the German response to the new weapon. All written in a clear fashion to help influence the high-command in creation of tank forces in the late 30's. Excellent, and different to the gore and personal cost expressed by Graves in Goodbye to all that or Alasdair Horne's Verdun.
Mandatory WWI and WWII reading!
on October 6, 2014
Great book. There are footnotes the british translator put in that address areas that he felt are not exactly how the historic records he gathered as alternate sources read relative to Heinz's book. Now I dont know how he knew which ones to target and I cant imagine where to gather the sources and all the time required, but certainly they appear to be the statements when Gen.Guderian cites a strategic move or event the enemy made based on HIS opinion after the battles, of who did it and why, or who used ammonia gas first for example. So it is Heinz's base writing, but the translator added some commentary at the end of each section when he felt it was needed to maybe try and correct/clarify what he thought Heinz was wrong on. Reading someones own memoirs-- interpret using your own life skills.
on April 20, 2016
Impresionante trabajo de un verdadero genio. No conocía quién era Guderian y leí su revolucionario libro escrito en 1937!
No tengo conocimientos de guerra ni de estrategia y aquí se ven de manera premonitoria la brillante innovación de la Segunda Guerra Mundial (el Blitzkrieg). De haber sido Guderian de nacionalidad aliada seguramente la Segunda Guerra hubiera durado mucho menos.
Mientras estaba en la mitad del libro, se me ocurrió investigar quien era este visionario y que había logrado. La verdad un verdadero genio.
No tengo conocimientos de guerra ni de estrategia y aquí se ven de manera premonitoria la brillante innovación de la Segunda Guerra Mundial (el Blitzkrieg). De haber sido Guderian de nacionalidad aliada seguramente la Segunda Guerra hubiera durado mucho menos.
Mientras estaba en la mitad del libro, se me ocurrió investigar quien era este visionario y que había logrado. La verdad un verdadero genio.
on December 21, 2008
This book forms part of the thinking that gave rise to modern combined-arms warfare as we still know it today. Written by general guderian shortly before WW2, this theory was then put into practice (including by himself) with the german offensives against poland and france. Strangley this edition (1992) is the first time is was translated into english!
The first half of the book is detailed description (almost too detailed and a bit tedious at times) of all the tank battles of WW1. After each battle is an analysis of what worked and what didnt.
It then effectively goes into what we would now call a SWOT analysis - Strengths, Weaknesses, Oppotunities, Threats - to work out what is needed to exploit the strengths and cover the weaknesses of tanks as shown by the WW1 battles. The result? His conclusion is that tanks are best used en masse, in surprise attacks over suitable terrain to make use of their spped and firepower but with full support from mechanised infantry, artillery and tactical air support to cover their vulnerability against obstacles and lack of long range indirect fire capacity! As an ex-troop leader of an armoured recon regiment who wore the black beret myself, reading the book was a bit like doing refresher training!
Last, the book goes into the organisational structure, tactics and doctrine that these forces should use to achieve the desired strategy of break through of the enemy front-line, so that mobile warfare can be carried deep into the enemies rear. The book even goes into what formations should be used, the depth and breadths of the attacks and the planning rates for the advances. What is most amazing is that the book was written before the war (which seems like giving away state secrets!) yet the allied forces didnt seem to have read it or taken heed of what was said and developed counter-measures!
Maybe it was like that anecodote quoted about Napoleon? After his early great victories one of his aides, Henri Jomini, returned home to his native swizterland to write a book 'critique of the battles of the revolution' in 1806. Napoleon is said to have read the book in alarm and exclaimed "it teaches my whole system of warfare to my enemies" then he is supposed to have relaxed and said "it's alright, the old generals who command against me will never read it and the young men who do read it do not yet command' sure enough it was almost ten more years before he meet his Waterloo...
If your are interested in the history of modern mobile warfare, the way war is still conducted today, then Achtung Panzer is a readable gem.
regards
david
The first half of the book is detailed description (almost too detailed and a bit tedious at times) of all the tank battles of WW1. After each battle is an analysis of what worked and what didnt.
It then effectively goes into what we would now call a SWOT analysis - Strengths, Weaknesses, Oppotunities, Threats - to work out what is needed to exploit the strengths and cover the weaknesses of tanks as shown by the WW1 battles. The result? His conclusion is that tanks are best used en masse, in surprise attacks over suitable terrain to make use of their spped and firepower but with full support from mechanised infantry, artillery and tactical air support to cover their vulnerability against obstacles and lack of long range indirect fire capacity! As an ex-troop leader of an armoured recon regiment who wore the black beret myself, reading the book was a bit like doing refresher training!
Last, the book goes into the organisational structure, tactics and doctrine that these forces should use to achieve the desired strategy of break through of the enemy front-line, so that mobile warfare can be carried deep into the enemies rear. The book even goes into what formations should be used, the depth and breadths of the attacks and the planning rates for the advances. What is most amazing is that the book was written before the war (which seems like giving away state secrets!) yet the allied forces didnt seem to have read it or taken heed of what was said and developed counter-measures!
Maybe it was like that anecodote quoted about Napoleon? After his early great victories one of his aides, Henri Jomini, returned home to his native swizterland to write a book 'critique of the battles of the revolution' in 1806. Napoleon is said to have read the book in alarm and exclaimed "it teaches my whole system of warfare to my enemies" then he is supposed to have relaxed and said "it's alright, the old generals who command against me will never read it and the young men who do read it do not yet command' sure enough it was almost ten more years before he meet his Waterloo...
If your are interested in the history of modern mobile warfare, the way war is still conducted today, then Achtung Panzer is a readable gem.
regards
david
on May 4, 2016
An excellent book from one of the greatest military minds of WWII, who revolutionized the way that war is waged, moving from trench warfare, to a warfare of mobility. It really helps you to understand the basics of Blitzkrieg. The book also includes nice pictures of old tanks
on April 19, 2017
A military classic. Part of the Marine Corps required reading list. I'm certain it's on Secretary Mattis's reading list. Not an easy read, but a wealth of information for history buffs and aspiring war fighters. Highly recommended!
